Sometime it won't start, then it will

[bsdnazz]

I've started having a problem starting my Chim from time to time.

I unlock the car using the remote and then put the key in to start it.
I turn the key, the fuel pump pumps but the car does not start. The
engine does not turn even turn over. In fact there seems to be no
attempt to even engage the starter motor. I'm pretty sure the
immobilisier is off as the fuel pump pumps and the red LED on
the right of the starting column is off.

So I futz around with the remote and the immobiliser tag for a while
and suddenly, for no obvious reason I am able to start the car. The
starter motor kicks in and all is well.

I had a new starter motor fitted by Fernhurst TVR late last year
after having the standard hot restart problem. However this problem
happened a couple of times before the new starter motor and 3 or 4
times since.

I think it's always been when the car is cold BTW.

Any thoughts?

[david beer]

Its a good idea to put a relay "back" into the solenoid circuit, it can be done in the footwell. If you want details, email me.

[bsdnazz]

While the problem is still on going I closer to locating the location of the fault.
Now, with the ignition key in the start/crank position, when the starter motor won't
turn I give the underside of the passenger side dash a firm slap and the starter motor
kicks into life.

I suspect a relay in the passenger side dash is sticking. Looking at the bible
wiring loom and pictures, the only thing I can see in the dash is the imobiliser
unit. Time to contact the meta man I think!

[tvrsmurf]

Just come back from two weeks away on hols and found I have the same problem with mine. No amount of slapping of the dash is curing it, battery test shows it's putting out good volts, but will the damn thing start. Will it 'eck.

Did you have any more joy getting to the bottom of your start problems by any chance???

[bsdnazz]

tvrsmurf said:

Just come back from two weeks away on hols and found I have the same problem with mine. No amount of slapping of the dash is curing it, battery test shows it's putting out good volts, but will the damn thing start. Will it 'eck.

Did you have any more joy getting to the bottom of your start problems by any chance???

I've not got to the bottom of my problem yet. It's a work in progress!

Soon after I got my Chim I experienced starting problems. Cleaning off the crud on the inside of the battery terminals and on the battery terminals transformed the starting reliability of my Chim. With only 12v even a small amount of resistance can affect starting reliability.

[tvrsmurf]

Battery terms seem fairly clean and, up to me leaving it for two weeks without gentle caress, starting's never been an issue - other than once when very warm on a petrol station forecourt. Fairly usual hot-start problem, ho hum. Think she's sulking cos I had the audacity to go away

I'll have a tinker with the relays and solenoid at the weekend, let you know if I have any joy, see if it helps you.

cheers

[bigdods]

I had this a while back afer I had been fiddling in the passenger footwell (as you do!). So i went back and removed and reseated every relay , wire and fuse I could lay my hands on. Now its fine. No idea which one fixed it mind you !

[Dave N500 CHM]

Mine used to do that.
The problem is fixed now though, I had the engine re-built!
sorry

[bsdnazz]

Long time, no follow-up!

About a month ago the Chim refused to start while trying to leave a petrol station. No amount of bashing or slapping would work and I eventually called the AA. I was hoping the failure would be reliable and we'd at last be able to find and fix the fault.

True to form, when the AA man turned up about 30mins later the Chim started! I went down to Fernhurst's and we had a chat. They were reasonably confident that the imobilisier was at fault and recomended I visit Carl Barker at Car & Bike Installations Ltd. I made a booking and today visited Carl.

We had a chat following a previous one on the phone and then Carl set about replacing the imobiliser.

Talking to Carl, I learnt that when starting the Chim there's a circuit made from the +ve battery terminal, through the start switch, through a relay in the immobiliser to the starter solenoid and back to the -ve batter terminal. Given that slapping the dash would get the chim to start and that the immobiliser is in the dash it's very likely that the immobiliser is faulty.

While changing the immobiliser Carl spotted that the alarm unit is a Mk2 but in a wiring loom expecting a Mk1. As he has an alarm circuit tester he tested the circuits and we had fun opening and closing doors, turning the hazzards on and off and messing with the iginition key. I'm pleased to say all the alarm circuits checked out OK. I took the opportunity to have two new key fobs programmed to the alarm as my fobs were pretty tired.

Now I have an new immobiliser, key fobs and a song in my heart!

Hopefully, the intermitent starting problems are history.

[bsdnazz]

Ten days on I've not had any problems starting the Chim. Since the immobiliser replacement it's started first time every time. I'd even go so far as to say it's keener to start than it's ever been but that might be my imagination!